| This is the week we celebrate Earth Day. Each | | | | will place a “nutritional label” on each |
| year there is plenty to talk about besides global | | | | box that will educate consumers about the |
| warming, although in this case the packaging lids | | | | product they are purchasing, including where it |
| are doing the talking. This from Stonyfield | | | | was manufactured, how it was produced, and its |
| Farms-On April 22, the 36th Earth Day will be | | | | effect on the environment. |
| celebrated around the world. | | | | Highlights of the packaging initiative include: |
| We’re excited about it here because the | | | | • The “nutritional label” that will |
| Virtual Global March on Washington will conclude. ([ | | | | inform consumers about |
| Many detractors of the packaging industry get | | | | Timberland’s environmental and community |
| charged up during this period with claims on what | | | | impact. |
| packaging is doing to the environment and | | | | • Footwear boxes made of 100 percent |
| sustainability. Even chocolate packaging is under | | | | recycled post-consumer waste fiber. |
| fire...The relaunch of a popular chocolate brand | | | | • Footwear boxes using no chemical glues |
| owned by Nestlé, the world's largest food | | | | and only soy-based inks to print labels. |
| company, is causing concern in environmentally | | | | • Messaging inside the box that asks |
| conscious circles in Switzerland. Under attack is | | | | consumers “What kind offootprint will you |
| the decision to package chocolate in polyethylene | | | | leave?” and provides a call to action for |
| terephthalate (PET), the plastic resin commonly | | | | them after purchase. |
| used to bottle drinks. To read more go to | | | | When Del Monte launched its line of fresh-cut fruit |
| Sure some of that is true and, yes, the landfills | | | | in Natureworks PLA packaging in 2004, it was one |
| are full of packaging materials, but the many | | | | of the first brands in the category to make the |
| companies in the industry are doing something | | | | switch to a compostable material and it continues |
| about it. Remember in October when I mentioned | | | | to expand the brand. |
| this headline:"Wal-Mart Rocks Packaging World with | | | | NatureWorks LLC is probably the most highly |
| Corn Based Packaging Order." If Wal-Mart | | | | publicized brand at present: "Dedicated to meeting |
| becomes an early adapter, the rest of the world | | | | the world’s needs today without |
| will soon follow suit. Any oil and natural gas-based | | | | compromising the earth’s ability to meet |
| plastics packaging suppliers will be scrambling to | | | | the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the |
| keep their business. Well, that moment is now. I'm | | | | first company to offer a family of commercially |
| getting dozens of releases weekly on new | | | | available greenhouse-gas-neutral polymers derived |
| packaging materials that have a claim on | | | | from 100 percent annually renewable resources |
| supporting the environment. Keep on the lookout | | | | with cost and performance that compete with |
| for packaging innovations using the words | | | | petroleum-based packaging materials and fibers. |
| biobased or bioresins. | | | | For more information about NatureWorks and its |
| I did some quick research and was surprised to | | | | brands, visit |
| find this example that may not be all that well | | | | You might remember from reading "What's In |
| known: "Eggland’s Best shares your | | | | Your Bottle?" BIOTA is changing the face of the |
| concern about the environment. They pay careful | | | | beverage industry with its bottle. This |
| consideration to their packaging choices, and only | | | | revolutionary new plastic, developed by |
| after in-depth study did they decide to package | | | | NatureWorks LLC,is derived from a 100 percent |
| Eggland’s Best eggs in polystyrene foam | | | | renewable resource, corn. BIOTA bottles |
| packaging. They made this decision not only for | | | | disappear in approximately 80 days in a |
| its superior protection and merchandising of our | | | | commercial composting environment. All other |
| eggs, but also for the overall environmental | | | | soda and water beverages are packaged in |
| impact of polystyrene vs. pulp paper cartons." | | | | petroleum-based bottles, which will never degrade |
| FYI, I love Egglands eggs. | | | | under similar composting conditions. |
| This revelation points to the fact that the answer | | | | Some educational materials are using packaging as |
| to supporting the environment may not be all that | | | | a learning example and teaching students about |
| simple. After all, package manufacturing is a | | | | "green" packaging too. They show students that |
| complex equation anyway so adding the | | | | they can affect the Earth with the decisions they |
| "environment" to the mix just requires a little | | | | make at retail stores. It instructs them to bring in |
| more thought. | | | | objects still in their packages to discuss whether |
| Well known brands are jumping on the | | | | each package is environmentally friendly or not |
| environmental bandwagon with interesting | | | | with the class. The campaign includes a reward |
| marketing campaigns. Earlier this year The | | | | for the class, Smarties® Celebrate Earth Day |
| Timberland Company today announced a | | | | Every Day Treat Packs which mention reducing, |
| footwear packaging initiative that reduces | | | | reusing, and recycling. |
| Timberland’s environmental impact and | | | | Whatever your product, it is vital to realize that |
| provides consumers with new information to help | | | | environmental issues are here to stay. It’s |
| guide them in the purchase process. The initiative, | | | | imperative to stay on top of packaging trends |
| the first of its kind in the retail industry, will be | | | | that are driving the way consumers shop and |
| seen in stores in 2006. Most notably, Timberland | | | | buy. |